Foreign currency coins can be exchanged in a variety of places and ways. Currency exchanges will give American money for foreign coins. Foreign aid organizations will take them for charitable work. Coin dealers and collectors will buy rare and prized pieces. Some people even collect everyday coins. Whatever their worth, foreign currency coins need not sit uselessly in the backs of drawers or the bottoms of purses.

Exchanging Foreign Coins for Cash

Most foreign coins are of low denomination, the equivalent of American pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. They represent decimal divisions of their respective national currencies. Most national currencies are worth less than the American dollar. Coins from these nations are often worth less than an American cent. Two or three of them are almost valueless, but in large amounts, they can be worth a fair amount in American money.

Sort your coins by national origin and denomination. Foreign currency dealers will accept mailings of bulk shipments. In general, very low value coins cannot be exchanged. Higher value coins will be exchanged for varying fractions of their face value, typically from around 50 percent to almost full value. Coins are shipped back to their country of origin. Rate of payment is based on the relative ease of exchange.

Charities

Tourists and businesspeople can accumulate large amounts of foreign coins while traveling abroad. These coins can be put to good use by donating them to charities, such as UNICEF's Change for Good program. Located in New York City, the Change for Good program collects unwanted foreign coins that it uses for children's causes around the world. Funds go directly to UNICEF, the United Nation's children's organization. To date, foreign coin donations have contributed more than $90 million to the organization's funds.

Collectors

Sometimes we receive old coins as change. These old or unusual coins may be in demand by rare coin dealers. Price guides are available at Heritage Auction Galleries, Best Coin and other sites. Seemingly ordinary coins may also be desired by private collectors. World-Wide Coin exchange is a site for people who collect regular issue coins from around the world. Here you can exchange original Euro sets for Susan B. Anthony Dollars and American "state" quarters, and other coins. Check with the site's owner to see if he can trade for your foreign currency coins.

References

About the Author

Brian Adler has been writing articles on history, politics, religion, art, architecture and antiques since 2002. His writing has been published with Demand Studios, as well as in an online magazine. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Columbia University.